JPH09161087A - Image generation supporting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image generation supporting system capable of generating and deforming a new image without being limited by the range of user's conception. SOLUTION: Based on an instruction which the user inputs from a display surface/operation panel 1, a random data generation part 3 generates a parameter value specifying the shape and the position of a partial image at random. An image generation control part 4, based on the random parameter value, generates each corresponding partial image, composites them and outputs them to the display surface/operation panel 1. In addition, the user varies the parameter value independently specifying the shape of the partial images from the display surface/operation panel 1 to vary the composited image to a desired shape.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a system for supporting a user to generate a new image for an image that can be expressed parametrically.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, to generate a new image,
The person trying to generate the image combines or transforms the image in his head,
The final image was obtained by externalizing a satisfactory image. That is, the design of an image formed by the components that can be expressed parametrically, for example, the face of an animation character or the like has been performed by changing the shape or size of each component of the face. Specifically, as a method of deforming an image, enlargement / reduction of the entire image or each component, affine transformation, enhancement of shading, and the like are known.

[0003]

However, in the conventional image generation method, the image that can be generated is limited to a range that can be imagined by a person who wants to generate the image.

That is, even if the user uses the above-described image transformation method, it is only arbitrarily transformed from the image held by the user, and it is not possible to generate a new image that exceeds the user's idea. was difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems caused by a user's past experience with respect to an image formed by combining parametrically expressible components. An object of the present invention is to provide an image generation support system that can generate a new image that a user has never imagined before, without depending on a cultural background.

Another object of the present invention is to present various images to a user, find an image desired by the user from the images, and directly transform the image into an image that the user considers optimal. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image generation support system capable of performing the above.

[0007]

According to the image generation support system of the present invention, each component can be independently and continuously deformed for an image formed by superposing a plurality of components. An input management means for outputting a plurality of first parameter signals for designating the shape of each component and a random data generation instruction signal in response to an external input; Random signal generating means for outputting a plurality of randomized second parameter signals for designating the shape of each component in response to activation of the generation instruction signal, and receiving the first and second parameter signals. Means for generating each component of the corresponding shape, and outputting image data corresponding to the synthesized image; and an image corresponding to the image data. And a display means for outputting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the image generation support system further includes an image storage means for storing and holding the image data generated by the image generation management means. The image display means includes a plurality of image display screens, and on each image display screen, outputs an image corresponding to the corresponding image data in the image storage means.The input management means responds to an external input signal, A display screen designating signal is output, and the image generation management means uses the image data updated according to the first and second parameter signals to generate an image corresponding to the image display screen designated according to the display screen designating signal. Update the image data in the storage means.

According to a third aspect of the image generation support system, in addition to the configuration of the image generation support system according to the second aspect, the input management means outputs a copy instruction signal in response to an input from the outside and makes a copy The image data corresponding to the first image display screen in the image storing unit, which is designated according to the instruction signal, is further replaced with image data corresponding to the second image display screen.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The image conceived by humans depends on past experience and cultural background.

On the other hand, for example, the face image of a character for animation can be uniquely determined by giving a parameter value designating the shape of each component. In this case, if the types of the parameters and the permissible range of the parameter values are large, by taking an arbitrary combination of them, it is possible to express an almost infinite face image.

Therefore, as a method of removing the restriction on the range of the image that can be conceived by humans, it is conceivable to randomly combine the components of the image (hereinafter, referred to as partial images). However, when the number of possible combinations is large, it is impossible to display all the combinations and directly evaluate them. Therefore, there is a need for a system that can be deformed by a direct operation based on an image that can be compromised by the user from images generated by random combination.

In order to facilitate the user's deformation operation,
It is necessary for the user to be able to easily deform the part he or she wants to deform, to be able to directly check the deformed image, and to be able to easily evaluate the image.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image generation support system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image generation support system 100 includes a display surface capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality of images, a display surface / operation panel 1 including an operation panel having buttons and levers operated by a user, and a display. A button / lever state management unit 2 that outputs a plurality of internal control signals in response to a plurality of information signals from the surface / operation panel 1 and a random data generation instruction signal from the button / lever state management unit 2
It receives the random data generating unit 3 for generating random image generating data, the image generating data from the button / lever state managing unit 2, and the random image generating data from the random data generating unit 3, and includes these data. An image generation management unit 4 that generates a corresponding partial image according to a parameter value corresponding to each partial image to be generated, for example, a parameter value that specifies the position and shape of the partial image, and outputs synthesized image data;
An image storage unit for storing image data corresponding to a plurality of image display areas on the display surface / operation panel;

The image generation management unit 4 receives image data corresponding to each image display area stored in the image storage unit 5 and outputs the image data to the display surface / operation panel 1.

The image generation support system 100 further responds to a copy instruction given by the user via the display surface / operation panel 1 in response to a copy instruction signal output from the button / lever state management unit 2. And a copy control unit 6 that supplies data indicating a copy source, a copy destination, and a copy instruction to the image generation management unit 4. The image generation management unit 4 replaces the copy source image data stored in the image storage unit 5 with the copy destination image data according to the data. Therefore, an image corresponding to the image data of the copy source is output to the image display area corresponding to the copy destination on the display surface / operation panel 1.

The image generation support system 100 further follows the instruction given by the user via the display surface / operation panel 1 and the image generation management section in response to the print instruction signal output from the button / lever state management section 2. An image printer 7 for printing and outputting the image data output from the printer is included.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the display on the display surface of the display surface / operation panel 1. The interface with the user includes a plurality of image display windows 101 to 103 for displaying images, selection buttons 104 to 106 for selecting an image display window, and copying an image displayed in another window to a designated window. At this time, number buttons 110 to 112 for identifying which window is specified, random buttons 113 to 115 for setting parameter values at random and giving an opportunity to display the image, and giving an opportunity for copying Copy buttons 116 to 118, levers 120 to 129 for changing parameter values, parameter value display section 1
30 to 139, a print button 140 for giving an opportunity to print the image, a cancel button 142 for interrupting the operation of the button halfway, and an end button 144 for giving an opportunity to end the image generation processing.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the image generation support system 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

The display / operation panel 1 includes windows 101 to 103 for displaying images shown in FIG.
106, 110 to 118 and 140 to 144, and operation levers 120 to 129, and handles input and output of information.

The user performs various instructions and image generation through selection of buttons and operation of levers on the display surface / operation panel 1. For example, from a plurality of image display windows 101 to 103 displayed on the display surface / operation panel 1,
The selection buttons 104 to 106 arranged immediately below the window to be used to determine in which window the image is generated
The instruction is given by pressing.

When the selection button is pressed, the operation panel 1
The information is output to the button / lever state management unit 2. The button / lever state management unit 2 instructs the display surface / operation panel 1 to change the display color of the selection button corresponding to the number of the selected window.

Next, the user enters the random buttons 113-1.
When 15 is pressed, the display surface / operation panel 1 outputs a randomization request signal to the button / lever state management unit 2. The button / lever state management unit 2 notifies the random data generation unit 3 of a random data generation instruction and the window number.

The random data generator 3 generates the value of each parameter at random, and notifies the data and the window number to the image generation manager 4. At the same time, the random data generating unit 3 controls the button / lever state managing unit 2
To the current parameter value.

The image generation management unit 4 generates an image based on the data from the random data generation unit 3, sends the image to the image storage unit 5, and instructs the image storage unit 5 to store the image.

The image generation management unit 4 receives image data corresponding to each display window in the image storage unit 5 and sends the image data to the display surface / operation panel 1. The display surface / operation panel 1 displays an image corresponding to the received image data on each display window.

The display / operation panel 1 receives the position and parameter values of the lever on the operation panel from the button / lever state management section 2 and displays them in synchronization with the image display.

Next, when the user selects and moves one of the levers shown in FIG. 2, the numbers and positions of the levers are changed.
The image generation management unit 4 is notified through the button / lever state management unit 2. The image generation management unit 4 changes the image based on the parameter value. The image generation management unit 4 outputs the image data to the image storage unit 5 and stores it. Further, the image generation management unit 4 receives image data corresponding to the currently selected display window from the image storage unit 5 and outputs the image data to the display surface / operation panel 1.

Although the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 2 shows an example in which there are three display windows, the number of display windows is not limited to this number and may be an arbitrary number of two or more. be able to. Also, the number of parameters for each partial image can be increased if necessary.

If the user wants to generate an image similar to that but changing only some of the parameter values during the generation of the image,
Select the window that displays the new image with the select button.

The information is detected by the display surface / operation panel 1 and sent to the button / lever state management section 2. further,
When the number button at the top of the window where the image to be copied exists is pressed by the user, the display surface / operation panel 1
Sends information to the button / lever state management unit 2. The button / lever state management unit 2 instructs the display surface / operation panel 1 to change the display color of the number button of the window to be copied based on the information.

When the copy button in FIG. 2, for example, the copy button 117 is pressed, the display surface / operation panel 1 acquires the number of the window to be copied and notifies the button / lever state management unit 2. Button / lever state management unit 2
Sends the information to the copy control unit 6 each time it obtains the copy source number and the copy destination number.

When the copy button 117 is pressed, this information is notified to the copy control section 6 from the display surface / operation panel 1 via the button / lever state management section 2.

When the number of the display window of the copy source, the number of the display window of the copy destination, and the information of the copy instruction are complete, the copy control unit 6 issues a copy instruction to the image generation management unit 4. In response, the image generation management unit 4 receives the image data corresponding to the display window of the copy source in the image storage unit 5, and replaces the image data with the image data corresponding to the display window of the copy destination of the image storage unit 5.
At the same time, the image generation management unit 4 displays the received copy source image data together with the window number to be displayed.
Output to display surface / operation panel 1 for display. The button / lever state management unit 2 instructs the display surface / operation panel 1 to restore the display color of the number button to the original color.

When the cancel button is pressed from the display / operation panel 1, a copy stop is notified from the display / operation panel 1 to the copy control section 6 via the button / lever state management section 2. The button / lever state management unit 2 and the copy control unit 6 reset the state.

The user presses the print button 140 in FIG.
Is pressed, a print request is notified from the display surface / operation panel 1 to the button / lever state management unit 2, and the button / lever state management unit 2 assigns the number of the selected window to the image generation management unit. 4 is instructed to print. The image generation management unit 4 calls up the corresponding image data from the image storage unit 5 and outputs the image data to the image printer 7.

FIG. 3 shows an image generation support system 100.
It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of. Hereinafter, the operation of the image generation support system 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

A user presses a selection button, for example, a selection button 104 disposed immediately below a window to be used, in order to start image generation and specify an image display window in which an image is to be generated ( Step SP1).

When the button / lever state management unit 2 detects that the selection button has been pressed, the button / lever state management unit 2 sends a selection button lighting signal for instructing to change the display color of the selection button 104 shown in FIG. 1 (Step SP
2).

On the other hand, when the button / lever state management unit 2 detects that the random button, for example, the random button 113 is pressed, the random data generation unit 3 outputs random image generation data in response to the detection.
The image generation management unit 4 generates image data based on the random image generation data. The image generation management unit 4 outputs the image data to the image storage unit 5 and to the display surface / operation panel 1. An image corresponding to the image data is output to the selected image display window 101 on the display surface / operation panel 1 (step SP3). Then button /
The process returns to the standby state in which the lever state management unit 2 detects a change in the buttons (step SP1).

In synchronization with the pressing of the random button by the user, the image generation management unit 4 converts the image data including the display of the parameter values and the display of the lever position as shown in FIG. Output to 1.

Next, the user enters a certain 1 shown in FIG.
When one of the levers is selected and moved, the button / lever state management unit 2 reads which lever is selected, and outputs a lever information signal to the image generation management unit 4 (step SP4).

The image generation management section 4 changes the parameter value in conjunction with the lever information signal and generates the corresponding image data. The generated image data is output to the image storage unit 5 and is output to the corresponding image display window of the display surface / operation panel 1 (step SP5).

As described above, by operating the lever to change the desired partial image, the synthesized image can be deformed. The button / lever state management unit 2 detects whether or not the end button in FIG. 2 is pressed, and when pressed, ends the operation of the image generation support system 100 (step SP1).
0), if it has not been pressed, the process returns to the standby state for reading the change in the state of the buttons (step S).
P1).

In step SP1, when the user is in the process of generating an image and wants to generate an image similar to the image but changing only some of the parameter values, a new image is displayed. Select the window (the copy destination window) with the select button. Further, when the user presses the number button at the top of the window (the original window) in which the image to be copied is present at step SP1, the button / lever state management unit 2 sets the number button of the window to be copied. Is output to the display surface / operation panel 1 (step SP6). continue,
The button / lever state management unit 2 includes a copy button (116 to
118) is pressed, a copy instruction signal is output to the copy control unit 6. In accordance with a copy instruction from the copy control unit 6, data indicating a copy source and a copy destination,
The image generation management unit 4 replaces the copy destination image data in the image storage unit 5 with the copy source image data. Further, the image generation management unit 4 outputs an instruction to display the copied image data in a corresponding display window to the display surface / operation panel 1. When the cancel button is pressed, the copying operation is stopped (step SP7).

The user can also change the copied image by operating the lever. At that time, it is possible to work while comparing with the image of the copy source.

In step SP1, when the user presses the print button, the button / lever state management unit 2
Outputs a print instruction signal to the image generation management unit 4.
The image generation management unit 4 outputs image data corresponding to the image displayed in the selected image display window to the image printer 7 according to the print instruction signal (step SP8).

The above operation is repeated until the user presses the end button 144.

Image generation support system 1 according to the present invention
00 operates as described above, and when an image that can be expressed parametrically can generate an enormous amount of image data when all of the combinations are taken, random images are generated. It is possible to generate a simple image. Furthermore, the image generation support system 100 allows the user to directly transform the generated image, without confirming all combinations, based on an image that the image creator could not come up with before. By adding a deformation operation, it is possible to efficiently generate a new and satisfactory image for the user. Further, the image generation support system 100 can simultaneously display a plurality of images and allow the user to independently modify each of the images, so that the user can easily determine which of the transformed images is the desired image. It is possible to make a comparison and determination, and it is possible to promote more efficient image generation.
Further, by continuously deforming based on the image determined to be desirable, a new image can be generated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image generation support system 100 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a display surface / operation panel 1 in the image generation support system 100.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image generation support system 100.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display surface / operation panel 2 Button / lever state management part 3 Random data generation part 4 Image generation management part 5 Image storage part 6 Copy control part 7 Image printer 100 Image generation support system

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image generation support system capable of independently and continuously deforming each of the constituent elements of an image formed by synthesizing a plurality of constituent elements. A plurality of first parameter signals for designating the shape of each of the constituent elements; and input management means for outputting a random data generation instructing signal; and each of the components in response to activation of the random data generation instructing signal. Random signal generating means for outputting a plurality of randomized second parameter signals for designating the shape of an element; receiving the first and second parameter signals and receiving the first and second parameter signals; Image generation management means for generating image data and outputting image data corresponding to the synthesized image; and display means for outputting an image corresponding to the image data. Obtain, image generation support system. 2. The image generation support system further comprises image storage means for storing and holding the image data generated by the image generation management means, wherein the image display means includes a plurality of image display screens, An image corresponding to the corresponding image data in the image storage means is output to each image display screen, and the input management means outputs a display screen designation signal in response to an input signal from the outside to generate the image. The management means includes the first and second
2. The image generation device according to claim 1, wherein the image data in the image storage means corresponding to the image display screen designated according to the display screen designation signal is updated by the image data updated according to the parameter signal. Support system. 3. The image display screen in the image storage means, wherein the input management means outputs a copy instruction signal in response to an external input, and which is designated according to the copy instruction signal. 3. The image generation support system according to claim 2, further comprising copying means for replacing the image data corresponding to the image data with the image data corresponding to the second image display screen.